Fireproof desk



UNITED STATES PATENT MILTON B. BIGELOVV AD A. HARDY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FIREPROOF DESK.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,534, dated June 28, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MILTON B. BIGELow and ANsoN HARDY, both of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Fireproof Desk; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, with the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is a perspective drawing of' our flreproof desk, when shut or closed up. Fig. 2, a perspective drawing of the same, when open, and ready to be used for the purposes of writ-ing or reading. Fig. 3, a perspective drawing of the same, with only the outside doors open. Figi 4, a drawing of a section of an end elevation, cut through at the point indicated by the dotted lines in Figs. l and 3,-and Fig. 5, is a drawing of a` front elevation of the movable table, cl, and the slide, f, disconnected from each other.

The drawings are in outline, and the same letters refer to similar parts in all the drawino's.

IThe purpose and advantage of our invention is to give greater, or more certain and convenient, security to valuable papers, and

other articles, than is afforded by the fireproof safes and vaults now in use. It not unfrequently happens that, in closing busi ness for the day, valuable papers, books, money, or other articles, are unintentionally left in, or upon, the o-rdinary wooden desks of the counting room, or office, instead of being removed to a fireproof vault, or safe, to remain o-ver night,-at which time their greatest danger, from the action of fire, eX- ists. By making a desk, itself, fireproof, all necessity for removing valuables from it, for greater safety from fire, is entirely avoided.

In constructing our desk, we make the outside case, a, a, a, Figs. 1, 2, 8, 4, and the outside doors, Z), Z), and the inside case, c, c, c, F ig. 4, according toany of the wellknown and approved methods employed for making fireproof safes.

The movable table, CZ, Figs. 2 and 4, which sometimes occupies the position shown in...

Fig. 2, and sometimes the position shown in Fig. 4, is made of wood. Y One purpose ofl the movable table, d, is to contain writing materials, and under its lid, g, which is hinged at 1", 71, compartments for papers, and

other articles. Itsupper surface is inclined, as shown in Figs. '2 and 4, for the purpose of making it convenient for writing and reading. Onr its front part is hinged, at 7c, It", Figs. 2 and 4, an' extension leaf Z. On extension leaf Z is a bolt, la,or. lock, so fitted that, when the movable table (Z, and the slide f, occupy the position shown 'in Fig. 4, and Fig. 3, said extension leaf may be fastened, or locked, to the inside case c, c, c.

Secured to the inside case c, c, c, and vertical partitions 7?, p, is a shelf e, Fig. 4, on

which the slide f moves and rests'. On each side of movable table (Z, is a partition, supported by shelfy e, and the case c, c, c. The beveled sides," o, o, Fig. 5, of the slide f, move in grooves made in' said partitions. On the upper side of the slide f, we fasten a wedge-shaped tongue, h., Fig. 5, which extends from front to rear of saidslide. Said tongue it, is made so as to enter a corresponding groove, z', Fig. 5', made on the underside of the movable table d. The slide f', is provided' with a stop which, coming in contact with an obstruction on shelf e, prevents said slide from being drawn out beyond the distance desired. The movable table, d, is also provided with a stop which,

meeting an obstructionl on the slide f, prevents said movable table from being drawn out beyond the distance desired. The purpose of the slide f is to support, or assist in supporting, the movable table el, whenever said movable table is drawn out, from the case a, a, a, to the posit-ion shown in Fig. 2.

Letters m, m, m, are drawers for the reception of papers, or other articles.

a, a, are compartments, for reception of books and other articles.

0, 0, are doors to close over compartments a, a, and drawers m, m, m.

79, j?, are vertical partitions, secured to the inside case c, c, c, and to shelf e.

A strong bracket, Q, g, of wood or metal, is hinged to each of the partitions 79, p. Said brackets are for the purpose of supporting or assisting to support, the slide f, and the movable table d, whenever said slide and said movable table are moved forward to the position shown in Fig. 2. When the slide f, and movable table cl, occupy the position shown in Fig. 4, the brackets Q, g, are swung or folded against, and parallel with, the front of the drawers, m, m, m.

S is a bolt to secure doors 0, o, in the position seen in Fig. 3.

t, t, are doors which cover compartments for papers, and other articles.

Supposing our fire-proof desk to be properly built, and closed, or shut up, so as to present the appearance shown in Fig. l, now, by unlocking and opening the outside doors b, b, the desk Will prese-nt the appearance shown in Fig. 3. Then, the doors o, 0, may be opened,the extension-leaf Z may be unfastened, and the movable table d, and the slide f may be drawn out to the position shown in Fig. 2. The brackets g, g, may the-n be swung or moved out into a position, as shown in Fig. 2, to support, partially or Wholly, the Weight of the movable table @Z and the slide f. The desk is now ready for use, for the purposes of reading and Writing.

Zhen it is desired to close, or shut up, the desk, the brackets g, g, are to be swung, or folded, against, and parallel with, the front of the drawers, m, m, nti-the doors 0, 0,- may then be closed, and the movable table, CZ, and slide f, may be pushed back until they occupy the position shovvn in Fig. 4. The eX- ltension-leaf Z, `may then be turned up, vertically, and fastened to the inside case c, o, c, as shown in Figsf and 4. The outside doors Z), b, may then be shut and locked, and the Y deskvvill then again present the appearance shown in Fig. l.

What We claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The movable table CZ, or any device essentially the same, in vcombination With the fire-proof case a, a., a,-said table being constructed and made so as to operate in the manner, substantially, as, and for the purposes, herein specified.

2. We also claim the slide f, or any device essentially the same, in combination with the movable table d and the fire-proof case a, a, a, for supporting, or'assisting to support, said mbvable table Whenever said table is drawn out to the position shown in Fig. 2, said slide and said table being connected, and made so as to operate in the manner and for the purpose, substantially as herein specified, and shown.

3. We also claim the brackets g, g, or any device substantially the same, in combination With the fire-proof case a, a, a, for supporting or assisting to support, the movable table cZ, and the slide f, in the manner and for the purpose, substantially, as herein shown and explained.

MILTON B. BIGELOW'. ANSON HARDY. Vitnesses:

S. T. BACON,

MELBYAN DUNBAR, Jr. 

